AU716870B3 - Compact disk protector - Google Patents

Description

I I Australia Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT USER APPLIED COMPACT DISK PROTECTOR The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: Compact disc protector This invention relates to a compact disc protector and more particularly, pertains to the compact disc which is a thin, scratch resistant electrostatically charged vinyl or like material which is optically clear and user applied.

Compact discs are made with little physical protection for the top and bottom of the disc making the information layer and polycarbonate bottom layer vulnerable to damage over long term use. Damage to the information and bottom side can result in tracking errors in the form of distortion of the music, dialogue or video, or can cause erroneous tracking problems for the players computer or digital video disc (DVD) player to have difficulty in focusing on the information, thereby producing miscues and skips. The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a compact disc protector which is designed to be easily applied to an optical disc by the consumer. It is a self contained structure of a self adhesive transparent member that can be placed on the label and/or bottom side of the compact disc without damage to the optical disc or disc player.

The general purpose of the present invention is a thin, scratch resistant, user applied transparent electrostatically charged vinyl disc with self clinging properties capable of negating possible damage to both sides of the compact disc. Optical information discs, such as compact discs, are made of a transparent polymer, such as polycarbonate. The disc having a patterned information bearing surface, a speculum reflective surface such as aluminium and a protective layer. The transparent base is about 0.3 1.2 mm. The thickness of the vapor deposited metal information surface is approximately 1/10 micron. Then, a protective layer over the information layer is applied, such as a mere 20 microns or a protective lacquer coating.

The laser beam from the pickup device shines through the transparent polycarbonate bottom side of the disc, reading the information stored in the form of microscopic pits, sending this data to the players circuitry to be interpreted in the form of music, video or computer data.

The protective lacquer side is for protecting the information layer and preventing oxidation of the metal surface. It is also for receiving a silk screen labeling of the disc for identification and content purposes.

Although a blemish on the bottom polycarbonate layer will hinder the lasers ability to read the data on the disc, a more severe problem would be to have an accidental partial removal of the information from the top, label side, or even affecting the metal surface and the condition of the information digital carrying microscopic pits.

The top layer is very thin, as well as being composed of a very fragile lacquer layer which is easily damaged by the glance of a hard object dropping on the disc or the disc falling on an object. This layer may also deteriorate from long term exposure to oils, such as from fingerprints, acids, salts, dirt, scratches and intention or unintentional abuse above normal handlin The lacquer and the metal layer can easily be removed, causing a severe information dropout on the disc. Over normal use, the compact disc, in particular the valuable information layer, becomes vulnerable once the supplied storage case is opened. Research has shown that a simple indicator of lost data is to hold the disc next to a light source and take note of the approximate quantity or size of light holes shining through the disc.

By noting when a compact disc player has had problems tracking a particular disc, the disc was taken out and examined for tracking error symptoms. Many problems or tracking errors correlate with scratched or damaged areas on both sides of the disc.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a precut transparent disc shape, of slightly smaller diameter than the optical disc, with a centre hole slightly larger than the centre hole of an optical disc, to cover the information side and the polycarbonate bottom of the disc. The protector is of a thickness of 150-200 microns and uses high technology scratch resistant electrostatically charged optically clear vinyl or like material film for optimum protection. The surface of the material must be highly polished as not to refract the path of the laser beam.

A significant aspect and feature of the present invention is its ability to cling to the top and bottom of the compact disc without having to resort to the use of glues and may be removed and reapplied many times without compromising the effectiveness of the disc protector. In the case of the disc protector becoming soiled after application, the protector can be removed, rinsed in soapy water and after drying can be reapplied to the compact disc. A further significant aspect and feature of the present invention is that the disc protector is not harmful to the optical disc, the metallized layer, the protective lacquer coating, the silk screen label information, nor the optical disc player.

Having thus described the embodiments of the present invention, it is the principle object hereof to provide a compact disc 49. protector.

To assist with understanding the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which will show one example of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows the top view of one example of the disc protector (10) according to this invention.

FIG. 2 shows a side view and the application of such a protective device (10) to the information bearing top (14) and polycarbonate bottom (13) side of the compact disc.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a compact disc with a compact disc protector visible on the information bearing side only.

FIG. 1 shows a top view of a compact disc protector (10) referring also to FIG. 3, the compact disc protector is made from an optically clear vinyl or like material able to hold an electro-static charge and is compatible with the aluminium metallized layer (14) and the polycarbonate bottom layer (13) of the compact disc.

The material of the compact disc protector (10) can be made of other suitable films, providing the film is optically clear and must have the ability to hold an electro-static charge to maintain its clinging ability.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of FIG. 1 where all numerals correspond to those elements previously described.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the compact disc protector (10) on a compact disc The radii of the compact disc protectors (10) are aligned with the radii of the compact disc and adhesively secured to the compact disc.

Compact and digital video discs are manufactured in different sizes. The compact disc protector will be appropriately sized to the disc or medium.

The use of the present invention is not strictly limited to compact discs, nor strictly limited to one size of compact disc.

Teachings of the present invention can be further extended to video discs or Digital Versatile Discs.

27. Various modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the apparent scope hereof.

-Dz 4:

Claims (2)

1. A removable protective cover for an optical disc having substantially flat opposed surfaces, said cover comprising: a substantially transparent annular sheet formed of a self clinging material, said sheet having a top and bottom surface and an inner and outer circumference; whereby in use, said top and bottom surfaces are substantially in contact with respective said opposed surfaces of said optical disc without the use of glue.

2. The removable protective cover of claim 1, wherein the substantially transparent annular sheet is formed of electrostatically-charged vinyl or like material. Bernardus Robertus Van Eyk 29 December 1999